Sources: Southampton agree to sign Everton sensation Thierry Small
Southampton have won the race to sign Everton sensation Thierry Small, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
The Premier League club have moved to tie up a deal for the 17-year-old left-back after he agreed to cancel his two-year scholarship with the Merseysiders.
A Saints source has told Football Insider the club have agreed terms with Small and he is putting pen to paper on a professional contract.
But there is no agreement with Everton for a fee for the record-breaking teenager.
That is likely to be decided by a tribunal, with the Merseysiders due compensation for Small’s development costs.
Football Insider revealed on 18th August that Southampton had a made a move for the defender.
Small has been looking for a move away from Everton after turning down all of their attempts to hand him a new deal.
He has also attracted interest from Leeds United, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Arsenal.
It is understood a compensation fee could be up to £5million.
Small has been able to sign pro terms since turning 17 on 1st August.
He is on record as Everton’s youngest-ever player after he was handed his first-team debut by Carlo Ancelotti in January.
He came on as a late substitute against Sheffield Wednesday at the age of 16 years and 176 days.
Southampton’s chief scout Martyn Glover knows all about the left-back’s potential after he moved to the south coast from Goodison two years ago.
Small is believed to be keen to join a side where he can experience first-team football in the Premier League straight away.
The Saints have a vacancy at left-back following the departure of Ryan Bertrand to Leicester City earlier in the summer.
In other news, Everton have pulled off ‘bargain of the century’ after what I saw at Leeds – Whelan.